THE VOICE OF BIPA

Welcome to the official BIPA newsletter: "The Voice of BIPA." This is where our voices unite, stories inspire, and our community thrives. Get the latest updates, highlights, and behind-the-scenes looks at the people and events shaping BIPA. Whether you’re new or a longtime member, this is your space to stay connected, celebrate impact, and amplify our voice — together.

BIPA Media Team, Nahreen Islam & Nawshin Chowdhury
June 24, 2025

Another month, another celebration of community, culture, and creativity. Welcome to the May edition of our BIPA newsletter! This issue features an exclusive message from one of our incredible alumni, sharing their inspiring journey beyond BIPA and how BIPA shaped her path and inspired her to encourage her own daughter to join. We’ll also look back on a powerful past event that brought our community together, spotlight one of our standout students making an impact, and give you a sneak peek at what’s coming up next. Let’s dive in!

Alumni Spotlight:

A Journey That Comes Full Circle

In this special feature, we hear from one of BIPA’s alumni as she reflects on her time with BIPA—how it shaped her, inspired her, and stayed with her long after the final curtain call.

Today, her story continues in a beautiful way, as her daughter Inaya is now a part of the BIPA family. From one generation to the next, the love for culture, creativity, and community lives on. Here’s her story

First and Third Picture is Farhana dancing with BIPA. Second Picture is Farhana with her daughter, Inaya Zaman

A Legacy of Rhythm and Guidance

It’s with immense pride and a wave of cherished memories that I reflect on my time as a student at the Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA). Being part of the BIPA family across generations is incredibly meaningful. It’s more than just an organization; it’s a community that fosters a deep connection to our heritage and artistic expression. What makes this journey even more special now is seeing my daughter Inaaya Zaman attend BIPA and embrace dance, just as I did. It is truly a full circle moment. Witnessing my daughter follow in my footsteps, learning dance from the very same remarkable teacher who once guided me, Annie Ferdous, brings profound pride and joy.

Annie aunty is more than a dance instructor. She is a true artist and an incredibly gifted educator. Her unwavering dedication, profound knowledge, and genuine love for her students have left an indelible mark on countless lives, including mine. Her legacy of artistry and compassion continues to enrich generations.

To today’s young BIPA students. embrace every moment of your journey. Value the guidance of your teacher, embrace the challenges, and find joy in every step. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, they are part of growth. The lessons you learn here will enhance your lives in many ways. Make the best of it!” -Farhana Mognie

Student Spotlight of the Month

We would like to introduce this month’s student spotlight, Ameena Islam, a dedicated student of Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts. Let’s take a look at what she has to say about her experiences at BIPA!

Ameena Islam with her role models, “powerful aunties” and friends.

“I am Ameena Islam, from BIPA, and I just wanted to share the very light and glow of happiness BIPA has brought to my life. Firstly, I started BIPA when I was only 5 years old, in 2017! Yes, I know, it was a very long time ago, and it has been 8 years since then! But, it feels like I’ve only started yesterday. I started with singing, dance and Bangla class. Last year I graduated from Bangla Class, and now am in 5th year in both singing and dance. BIPA is led by three amazing and powerful women — Annie auntie, Selima auntie, and Nilo auntie. Maisha Apu is also one of the best role models for me, as she stimulates myself to drive further and go beyond. They are the ones who constantly encourage me to aim for the stars and believe in myself. Every day and every second I spend there feels like a moment of treasure that I will cherish forever. From every little competition to the final exams before the Bijoy Dibosh show in December, are experiences that fuel my determination to give my very best. Along with the excitement of being with BIPA, I also aspire to work in medicine and become a toxicologist one day. Thank you, BIPA, for making my life so beautiful. I love you, Annie auntie, Nilo auntie, and Selima auntie!

I love the Boishakh shows for its vibrant colors and astonishing performances that beautifully showcased Bengali culture.
I love performing in shows—even though it takes a lot of hard work—because the energy of the audience and the joy of sharing my passion make it all worth it.
One of my best memories was singing at Alvan’s Uttaradhikar show, and another unforgettable moment was performing at BIPA’s 30th anniversary—it felt amazing to be part of something so special.” - Ameena Islam

A Look Into BIPA’s Month of May

Pictures obtained from Minhaz Ahmed and Syed R. Emon

Event Recap: May 10, 2025

BIPA Bengali New Year 1432 – Day 1

BIPA’s Boishakh 1432 celebration brought to life the timeless artistry of Rabindranath Tagore through Color and Melody of Robiraag, an evening dedicated to exploring the poetic and melodic depth of his work. Audiences were transported through a rich vocal journey showcasing Tagore’s legacy, intertwining music and emotion with tradition and innovation. The performance highlighted the enduring beauty of Robindra Sangeet, capturing hearts with each note. Additionally, there was a segment of “Monsoon Melodies” directed by Selima Ashraf. The vibrant colors and emotions presented during the Rainy Season were heavily portrayed in this segment. All in all, with strong community attendance and spirited support, the event stood as a powerful testament to the cultural richness of Bengali heritage.

Photos obtained from Minhaz Ahmed

Event Recap: May 11, 2025

Dance, Drama, and New Beginnings – Day 2

The second day of celebrations on May 11th focused on dance and storytelling. It began with “TagoreSpeare: A Dance Odyssey”, a unique performance that mixed the words and ideas of Rabindranath Tagore and William Shakespeare. Dancers showed the journey of life in seven powerful scenes, using movement and music to bring deep emotions to the stage.

Later that evening, “Dancing Across Frontiers” celebrated International Dance Day and introduced the Bangladesh Dancers Foundation – New York Chapter. Presented by the Nrittoshilpi Foundation of Bangladesh (NY Chapter) in collaboration with BIPA, the show featured exciting dances that celebrated both tradition and global connection.

The audience responded with applause and smiles, ending the weekend with energy, pride, and inspiration.

A Heartfelt Thank You

BIPA extends its deepest gratitude to all performers, collaborators, volunteers, and audience members who made these events a success. Special thanks to the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and the City Council Members for their continued support.

Together, we celebrated culture, heritage, and the joy of artistic expression. We look forward to welcoming you to our future events!

Special Thank You to Weekly Bangalee

Weekly Bangalee, May 17, 2025

We would like to specially thank all of the journalists that attended our 2-day production for Bengali New Year. Thank you!

Photos representing BIPA students at Bangabandhu International Book Fair. Obtained by Minhaz Ahmed

Event Recap: Bangabandhu International Book Fair – New York 2025

Held May 24 & 25 at Joya Party Hall, Rego Park, NY

The Bangabandhu International Book Fair (Boi Mela) 2025 was a powerful celebration of Bangla literature, language, and identity. Held over two days in Rego Park, Queens, this special event brought together authors, poets, translators, publishers, artists, and literature enthusiasts from across the Bangladeshi diaspora and beyond.

This year’s fair honored the life and legacy of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, showcasing the rich literary traditions that continue to grow in his spirit. The event featured book launches, readings, and discussions that highlighted both classic works and exciting new voices in Bangla literature. Guests enjoyed panels on literature in translation, the role of books in preserving cultural memory, and the importance of storytelling in building bridges across generations.

BIPA was proud to participate in this important platform alongside so many inspiring creators and thinkers. With strong community support, the fair became more than just a gathering of books, it was a celebration of heritage, freedom of expression, and shared identity.

We thank everyone who came, contributed, and supported this vibrant literary gathering. We look forward to next year’s fair and hope to see you again!

BIPA’s upcoming events

We’re wrapping up the month with two incredible events that showcase our young talents and celebrate the vibrant Bangladeshi community in New York!

🌟 Concert Series of Rising Youth: Uttaradhikar

📅 Saturday, June 28, 2025

🕕 6:00 PM

📍 Jamaica Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave - Take E Train to Jamaica Center (last stop) and walk about three minutes

Join us for a special evening highlighting the accomplishments of our rising youth artists, Kamilla S Alam and Fahmin Rahman. This free event will feature performances that reflect their artistic journey through BIPA and beyond.

🎊 Bangla Mela

📅 Sunday, June 29, 2025

🕛 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM

📍 Forest Park Bandshell, Forest Park Dr, Woodhaven, NY - Accessible with the A and J Train, transfer to Q11 or Q21 Bus

Experience a colorful day of music, dance, crafts, food, and fun! With live performances, poetry, face painting, and more, this is a celebration for the whole family.

Come support our community and celebrate the arts together! 💚

Get Involved with BIPA’s Media & Communications Team!

Do you love writing, design, organizing, or content creation? Join BIPA’s growing media team and find a role that fits your interests!

We’re welcoming new members to help with:

📝 Newsletter

🎙️ Podcast

🌐 Website

📅 Event Calendar

📸 Photography, Social Media, & Event Coverage

Whether you’re looking to build experience or just want to contribute creatively, there’s a place for you here.

📩 To get involved, email us at [email protected] or contact Annie Ferdous (914-674-4746) and let us know what you’re interested in!

Be part of the team that helps shape BIPA’s voice and story.

Follow us to Stay Connected to be the first to get updates on BIPA news, performances, and more!

Check out our LinkTree to get the links to subscribe to all of our new features such as our BIPA calendar which lists out the dates and times of all future BIPA events, as well as access to our Facebook and Instagram accounts for updates on BIPA events, programs, and more! Additionally, our new BIPA Podcast, now available on our YouTube channel (BIPA Official) will be releasing soon! In our very first episode, we welcome Selima Ashraf, one of BIPA’s founders and a vocal instructor for our older students.

Selima Ashraf is an integral part of BIPA’s culture and community, inspiring countless students through her dedication to music and education. In this episode, she shares her journey in shaping BIPA, her passion for the arts, and what drives her to teach.

Don’t miss out! Subscribe and turn on notifications so you’ll always know when a new podcast episode drops.